JPH0453766A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the printing of a polychromatic image specified by an operator although monochromatic printing information is received by recording a specified image in a specified color, if it is discriminated that the image is present in entered printing information. CONSTITUTION:CPU 4 expands an appropriate image in a page buffer 7b if data on the name of a character form, a form or an image registered in color designation tables 6a to 6c is received. In addition, an appropriate image is expanded in a page buffer 7a, if data on the name of a form not registered in the tables 6a to 6c is received. The image expanded in the page buffers 7a, 7b as described are printed in the superimposed mode by outputting it to an output device 9. However, the image expanded in the page buffer 7a is printed in black, while the image expanded in the page buffer 7b is printed in red.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a printing device, and particularly to a printing device having two or more printing colors.

[Conventional technology]

Normally, in order to perform multicolor printing with this type of device, the sender of the print data, that is, the host computer, etc., must specify the subsequent printing color in the character code or image to be output. This was accomplished by sending control codes, etc. Of course, the print color specified at this time is one provided by the printing device.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, in order to change the printing color, a control code specifying the color must be included in the input data, which has the following drawbacks. ■If you want to print fonts, forms, or images in different colors, you will need a control code to specify the color each time.
The total amount of input data will increase considerably. If you want to change only the print color in the data output once, you will have to search for the control code for specifying the color of the corresponding part and change it, which is very time consuming. ■When converting monochrome data into multicolor data (same as ■), it takes a lot of effort. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art and to provide a printing apparatus that can print a multicolor image as intended by an operator while receiving monochrome printing information.

[Means to solve the problem]

A printing apparatus of the present invention that solves this problem has the configuration shown below. That is, in a printing device that records a composite image of at least two colors on a recording medium based on print data input from the outside, a manual means for inputting print information from the outside, a desired image, and a print color for the image are specified. a determining means for determining whether or not the image specified by the specifying means exists in the print information input from the input means; and recording means for recording the image in the color specified by the specifying means when it is determined that the image is included in the print information input by the input means.

[Effect] In this configuration of the present invention, the operator uses the setting means to specify the image he or she intends and the print color for that image. Then, if the specified image exists in the print information inputted by the input means, the image is recorded in the specified color. 【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. In the embodiment, a red and black two-color printing apparatus will be described as an example. In the figure, ■ is a data generation source composed of, for example, a host computer, which outputs print information (multicolor document image data). Reference numeral 2 denotes a printing device according to an embodiment that performs multicolor printing based on print information input from the data generation source 1, and includes the following components. 3 is an input interface section for receiving print information from the data source 1, and 4 is a CPU that generally controls the entire apparatus. 5 is a ROM that stores the operation processing procedure of the CPU 4 (such as the flowchart in FIG. 4, which will be described later);
6 is a RAM used as a work area for the CPU 4. At a predetermined address position (including the address area) of this RAM 6, color specification tables 68 to 6C, which will be described later, are stored.
, data reception start flag 6d, etc. are secured. 7a
7b is a page buffer for black images, and 7b is a page buffer for red images, both of which are memories for developing image data when printing. 8 is a character pattern generator that generates character patterns based on instructions from the CPU 4 and outputs them to the page buffers 7a and Tb. 9 prints red and black 2 on the recording medium based on the data from the page buffers 7a and 7b.
An output device for recording a color mixed image, for example a laser beam printer. However, since we only need a printing mechanism that can print in two colors, any printing mechanism that uses a method other than this is also acceptable. It is an operation panel,
A designation section is provided for forcibly developing one of the page buffers 7a and 7b in a single color. In this embodiment, before actually printing, the name of the font (type of characters), form (form, etc.) to be printed in red, and image name are input from the operation panel 10. The input font name is registered in the font color specification table 6a in the RAM 6, the form name is registered in the form color specification table 6b, and the image name is registered in the image color specification table 6C. Note that font names, form names, and image names that are not specified from the operation panel 10 are printed in black. FIG. 3 shows an example of each color specification table 6a to 6C. In the case shown, the font name is “FONTA”
and "FONTB" are registered, indicating that they will be printed in red. In addition, "FORMA" and "FORMB" are printed as form names, and "IMAGEA" and "IMAGEB" are printed as image names in red.From data source 1, for example, as shown in FIG. The print data is sent in the following format (i.e., an identification control code 20, a name 21, and data 22 are sent next).The identification control code 20 indicates that it is not a character code, etc. (It includes information that makes it possible to determine whether the data 22 is a character code, information for forming a form, or image data.The name 21 includes a font name, a form name, An image name is entered. When the CPU 4 receives a character photo name, form name, or image name registered in the color specification tables 6a to 6C, the CPU 4 expands the corresponding image to the page buffer 7.
Expand to b. Furthermore, when form names etc. that are not registered in the color specification tables 68 to 6c are received, the images corresponding to them are developed in the page buffer 7a. In this way, the images developed in the page buffers 7a and 7b are outputted to the output device 9, thereby being printed in a superimposed manner. However, as described above, the image developed in the page buffer 7a is printed in black, and the image developed in the page buffer 7b is printed in red. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation processing procedure of the CPU 4 in the embodiment. The flow of this process will be explained below. First, when the power is turned on in this device, steps Sl and S are performed.
2, all color specification tables 68 to 6c and data start flag 6d are cleared to zero (OFF). In step S3, it is determined whether there is an input from the operation panel 10. If No (no input), the process advances to step S6 and onwards, and if YES (input exists), it is determined in step S4 whether or not the input from the operation panel 10 is table registration. If it is determined that the input is related to table registration, the process proceeds to step S5, where the name manually entered by the operator is registered in one of the color designation tables 6a to 6c, and the process proceeds to step S6. Also, step S4
If it is determined that the information is NOl, that is, the information is related to a flag set, the process proceeds to step S14, where the data reception start flag 6d is set to a manually input value (on or off value), and the process proceeds to step S6. move on. In step S6, it is determined whether or not the data reception start flag 6d is turned on, and the processes from step 83 to step S6 are repeated until it is turned on. Now, when the data reception start flag 6d turns on,
The process advances from step S6 to step S7 to receive one unit of data, and in step S8 it is checked whether the data was received (reception O
K). If YES, the data is the font registered in the color specification tables 68 to 6c in step S9. Determine whether it is a form or an image. If YES, in step S15 page buffer 7b (for red output)
If the answer is No, the data is developed in the page buffer 7a (for black output) in step S10, and it is determined whether a page break is to be performed in step S11. If No, the process returns to step S7, and if YES, in step S12, the page buffer 7b is printed in red and the page buffer 7a is printed in black on the same sheet of paper. Thereafter, in step S13, the page buffers 7a and 7b are cleared and the process returns to step S7. Further, if the determination in step S8 is No, that is, if the data could not be received, the process advances to step S16.
It is determined whether both page buffers 7a and 7b are empty. Then, if it is vacant, the J
Finish OB. Also, if it is determined that some data remains in the page buffer 7a or 7b,
In step S17, the page buffer 7a is printed in black and the page buffer 7b is printed in red, and the job is
end. Note that the next JOB process starts from step S3. Further, in the embodiment, two colors, red and black, are used as an example of printing colors, but the printing colors are not limited to these, and of course, other colors may be used. In addition, if there are three types of printing colors, for example blue, yellow, and red, the printing color cannot be specified simply by specifying the form, so the color specification as shown in Figure 2 (B) Use a table. Of course, the color is specified using a button or the like provided on the operation panel 10. In addition, in the above embodiment, the font name printed in red,
Form names and image names are registered by inputting the names, but if the names that can be selected are determined in advance, the operation panel 10 can be provided with buttons for those types, so that they can be registered with a single operation. It may also be possible to register. Description of Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus in the second embodiment. For ease of explanation, the same components as in the first embodiment are not given the same reference numerals. However, as shown in the figure, a disk 11 is newly added as an external storage device. This disk 11 stores font patterns, form data, and image data as files, each of which has an output color added to it. Further, the RAM 6 is provided with a data reception start flag 6d as in the first embodiment, but is provided with registration areas 6e to 6g for fonts, forms, and images used when newly printing. There is. FIGS. 6A to 6C show the formats of fonts, forms, and images on the disk 11 and RAMB, each having a color attribute area. In addition, disk l
1, it exists as a file name with name + extension. Hereinafter, the operation processing procedure of CP tJ 4 of the second embodiment will be explained according to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the device is powered on, all registration areas 6e to 6g and data start flag 6d are cleared to zero (OFF) in step S71. In step S72, it is determined whether there is an input from the operation panel 10. If No (no input), the process advances to step S76, and if YES (input exists), it is determined in step S73 whether or not the input from the operation panel IO is an instruction related to color change. If YES (if it is determined that it is a color change instruction), the process proceeds to step S74, changes the color of the font, form, or image on the disk II based on the input data, and proceeds to step S76. If NO, it is determined that the instruction is to start data reception, and in step S75 the data reception start flag 6d is set to the ON state, and in step S76
Proceed to. In step S76, it is determined whether or not the data reception start flag 6d is on, and the processes of steps S72 to S76 are repeated until the data reception start flag 6d is on. Now, when the data reception start flag 6d turns on,
The process proceeds from step S76 to step S77, in which one unit of data is received, and in step S78, it is determined whether or not the data has been received (reception OK). If YES, it is determined in step S81 whether the data is a command to register a font, form, or image onto the RAM. If it is a registration command, it is registered in the corresponding font, form, or image registration areas 6e to 6g on RAMe in step S89, and the process returns to step S77. Also, step S81
If the determination is NO, that is, if it is determined that the received data is not data related to registration, the process advances to step S82, and it is determined whether the input data is a color change command. YES
In this case, the process advances to step S90, changes the color attributes of the font, form, and image registered on the RAM 6, and returns to step S77. If the determination in step S82 is No, the process proceeds to step S83, and it is determined whether the color attribute of the font, form, or image corresponding to the received data is black. If the color is black, a corresponding image (character pattern, form pattern, or image) is developed in the page buffer 7a in step S84, and if it is red, the image is developed in the page buffer 7b in step S85. In this way, when the process of developing the image of the received data of interest in the page buffer 7a or 7b is completed, the process proceeds to step S8.
Proceed to step 6. Here, it is determined whether or not to change the page. Only if this determination is YES, the page buffer 7a is processed in step S87. 7b is printed on the same recording paper, and then in step S88 those page buffers 7
Clear a and 7b. After this, the process proceeds to step S'l
"Return to I. If the determination in step S78 is NO, that is, if data cannot be received, the process advances to step S79, and it is determined whether or not both page buffers 7a and 7b are free. Then, If the JOB is empty, the JOB of interest is ended.
If it is determined that it remains in b, step 5807
Then, the page buffer 7a is printed in black and the page buffer 7b is printed in red, and the job is completed. Note that the next JOB process starts from step S2. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set the colors of characters, forms, and images as intended by the operator even with less monochrome information than the amount of information for multicolor printing. That is, even with monochrome data, it is possible to easily emphasize what should be emphasized, and it is possible to create an easy-to-read page structure. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to print a multicolor image intended by an operator while receiving monochrome printing information.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a block configuration diagram of the printing device in the first embodiment. Figures 2 (A) and (B) are diagrams each showing the contents of a color specification table. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the format of received print data. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation processing procedure of the CPU in the first embodiment, Figure 5 is a block configuration diagram of the printing device in the second embodiment, and Figures 6 (A) to (C) are registration FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation processing procedure of the CPU in the second embodiment. In the figure, 1...data generation source, 2...printing device,
3...Input interface section, 4...CPU, 5.
ROM, 6 RAM, 7a and 7b page buffer, 8 character pattern generator, 9 output device, IO operation panel, 11 disk. Patent Applicant Canon Co., Ltd., Agent Patent Attorney Yasunori Amaba (and 1 other person) Figure 3 Figure 2 Figure 7 Oki Four 4 Ix-C Figure 6

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A printing device that records a composite image of at least two colors on a recording medium based on print data input from the outside, including an input means for inputting print information from the outside, and a desired image and print color for the image. a specifying means for specifying, a determining means for determining whether or not an image specified by the specifying means exists in the print information input from the input means; A printing apparatus comprising: a recording means for recording the image in a color specified by the specifying means when it is determined that the image is included in the print information input by the input means. (2) The image specified by the specifying means includes the type of character,
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information includes a type of form and a type of image data.